How do they stop animals from eating each other at aquariums? Or do they just go “Oh well”?
In: Biology
The vast majority of animals kept together are strategically chosen to coexist in their tanks because they are not predatory towards each other. This can be relatively simple, like pairing various [tetra species](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b3/f4/8c/b3f48c411428eed86a31d5bddc217ea9.jpg) together, maybe add some algae eaters, and there’s no risk of anyone eating anyone.
How do they mix fish that *are* predatory? Most fish are pretty picky about how big their prey is. Most fish swallow their prey whole: if they can’t swallow it in one bite, more or less, they are unlikely to even try. Moreover, when fish are well fed they’re less likely to predate on tankmates. It’s still *possible*, but if they know they’re getting a solid meal on a regular schedule, there’s no need to waste energy trying to catch prey.
Fish can still be very aggressive towards each other and kill each other because of it. Species have to be mixed carefully to make sure they all have the right temperament. This is particularly true with saltwater fish that can have pretty complicated interactions.
In the end, though, sometimes they *do* just eat each other occasionally. The aquariums keep an eye on it and if it happens too often that’s probably indicative of a problem of some kind: a lot of predators mainly target sick or injured fish. Loss is just something any aquarium has to deal with, from predators or fighting or injuries or illnesses.
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